Published August 2004

County’s jobless rate inches up to 6.5%

SCBJ Staff

Snohomish County’s economic recovery cooled a bit in June, with 300 more people unemployed, but the jobless rate remained considerably lower than last year’s figure of 8.1 percent, according to a report by the state Employment Security Department.

The county unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in June, one-tenth of a percentage point higher than the revised figure for May, the state agency said, while statewide, the rate was unchanged at 6.1 percent. Nationally, it was 5.6 percent.

The total number of jobs in the county rose to 216,100 in June, up 1,800 from a year ago, the state reported. The number of people in the county with jobs, meaning they live here but could work outside Snohomish County, totaled 329,600, up from 315,700 a year ago.

During the past year, service businesses have added 4,000 jobs, construction and goods production have each added 300 jobs, manufacturing has lost 2,200 jobs — mostly due to the Boeing layoffs — and retail has added 700 over the year.

The recovery is coming, but very slowly, said Donna Thompson, Snohomish County labor economist for the state department.

“There are a few jobs out there, and a lot more people looking,” she said.

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